The Battle – Epilogue

Arthur Reynolds helping Bert Rutan. More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History.

In 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished.

The Marines’ effort provided a vital link in the U.S.chain of bomber bases. By war’s end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewman had made emergency landings on Iwo Jima.

“Angels in the Air” Ensign Gwendolyn Jensen, a Navy flight nurse, caring for a seriously wounded Marine on an Iwo Jima airstrip. The nurse’s plane landed under intense mortar fire. Jensen was one of many nurses who braved enemy fire to evacuate wounded Marines.

76 thoughts on “The Battle – Epilogue”

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Your first pictue was said to be Arthur Reynolds helping Bert Rutan, that is in fact incorrect. The person wounded in that picture is in fact my great grandfather Mervin Hollan who was shot three times and half carried off the field by a fellow soldier. To today that photo is very famous but one must get their facts right first.

No, it isn’t Mervin Hollan. This has been corrected multiple times by commenters below (including myself who has corrected others claiming to know the persons in the photo incorrectly).

While there may have been a Marvin Hollan who was injured (hard to find without knowing a state the person was from) he has never been listed as a person to my knowledge that is in the picture. Also the other person in the picture has been interviewed and said that the injured marine is Robert O’neil

hey everyone im doing a project on the battle of iwo jima. i dont know why but for some reasons i woke up one day and the idea came to me. so if anyone and i mean anyone has a picture or can tell me of something that happened on the island id be greatly appreciated.

got top secret battle plans for the fight, 3-4 5-div most of the 4th i was in the 3rd 9 reg (the fighting 9th) now 90 + i made it past 3rd airfield,then off to sipain hospital ship,kermit.harris11@gmail.com.

hey everyone im doing a project on the battle of iwo jima. i dont know why but for some reasons i woke up one day and the idea came to me. so if anyone and i mean anyone has a picture or can tell me of something that happened on the island id be greatly appreciated.

I am creating a family tree.i believe my mother married a young man named Doolen. He was killed in Feb or March 1945. She had his child and would be my half brother or half sister. . They would have lived in Chicago or St. Louis. I will keep looking for this person.
Jim Meyer
Maricopa,Az

I think the wounded Marine in the picture is Lt. Roy A. Welke. Before my father-in-law, Roy, passed away he had told us that he was the Marine in the photo. I regret not having the presence of mind to ask him for more details such as which unit he was with. All that comes to mind is that he was in the 3rd Marine Division.

If anyone out there served with Brandford Swimm (3rd Id-Radioman) on Iwo I would appreciate a note. He was a relative of mine who grew up in Watertown Mass and the only time he let me know of his experiences on Iwo was at his mothers funeral. He did give me a his camoflaged Marine assault jacket when I joined the Corps.

The “Unidentified Injured Marine” at Iwo Jima is Richard H. Bump, Otego, NY.
He knew it was his picture. When he came back to the U.S. after serving in Iwo Jima,
he was greeted at the airport by the Marine Corp and given a book with that picture
it and they thanked him for his service. Other Marines may claim it is them. My
father knew it was him and it is a picture of him. Quantico should be able to take this picture
and the official Marine picture and tell who this soldier is.

Cynthia, I’ve been researching this photo and the Iwo Jima battle recently. I’m intrigued by your comments about your dad and the photo. Your dad is not listed on the New York list of WW2 wounded on the national archives site. Do you know if he was wounded, and if he had a Purple Heart? Also , he was 3rd division, 21st marines, and landed on the 21st of February. The photo is supposedly from the 20th. I would like to know more abut your dads service. Any info would be great. Thanks.

Ben,
Did you mean Edward Eugene Jones? He was my grandfather and would love to know more if you a able to shed some light on the past events. He was a Captain in the Marines and told me he was there when they stood up the flag. There is not much else I know because he would never speak of it.

Ben, The injured soldier is my father, Robert O’Neil. My brother has corresponded to your Grandfather in the past. He confirmed it was our father. They were cooks in the Marines and good friends. We have the sustained injury date and the photo date exactly match up. You can contact my brother at saipanandiwojima.com/Every_Step_Of_The_Way.php.
Kindest regards,
Janet O’Neil

Cynthia, the navy corpsman was Nick Delphonse, and the injured Marine, is Robert J. O’Neil, whom Nick has since the beginning, said it was, they had many battles together, including taking a hill, after their machine gunner was killed.
Robert O’Neil ran out and Nick ran with him.
They took the dead gunners body off the gun and fired that thing all night. It was so hot, they had to switch the barrels of the gun over and over, they glowed in the dark.

Thank you so much for correctly identifying the two men BenD. The wounded Marine is my father, Robert J. O’Neil. Both of those men appreciate your honesty and integrity, especially after all they went to together, earning the Purple Heart and other badges.
There is a site: http://saipanandiwojima.com/Every_Step_Of_The_Way.php

Retired Marine here, not a bad story of the battle for Iwo Jima, but there is one GLARING inaccuracy here. One does not in your words “earn” the Medal Of Honor, it is not a Merit Badge, nor is it a salary. The Medal Of Honor is AWARDED to it’s recipients for acts of valor “Above and Beyond” the call of duty.

You do a great dis-service to the 3,480 Medal Of Honor recipients by stating they “earned” the Medal Of Honor, like it is some sort of good job award.

Do you not appreciate that we are not under Japan’s rule?!?! I’m only an 8th grader and I at least have respect for those who gave their lives for you and me. It’s like what Jesus did for you and me when he died on the cross for us.

Your mincing words here and arguing over semantics. To be awarded the medal, they first had to do something,.

The CMOH and many other awards and decorations have been tarnished by the politics behind the award. For a large percentage of the CMOHs awarded, there are countless others who were not even written up for bronze medal. In many cases, the enlisted men were doing the actual toe to toe fighting and the officer back at the c.p. with the H&S troops receives the CMOH while the enlisted troop on the perimeter, butt-stroking countless enemy and dragging buddies from the beaten zone, the enlisted man might get the bronze medal to go with his countless purple hearts. Don’t get me wrong, there are many officers who were rightly awarded the CMOH, and there are untold other who should have been awarded the medal, but there are glaring examples of enlisted men who in the same action were more heroic and did not even get an honorable mention; by the way, I am a USAF officer, but as a prior service Marine, I will always claim the Marine Corps.

Wow…. I had no idea there were so many casualties. Thank you to everyone who served this country, you risked and gave your lives to protect us and that won’t soon be forgotten. I’m writing a paper for my World History class, and if anyone is willing to help me with stories or personal accounts, please email me at Moniz_Haley@yahoo.com

Moniz: I think if you will get a copy of “Call Me No Hero” [ Rebeka Sheats, author]you will understand a lot of the battle on Iwo Jima that many do not know. It is also a book on Marine training from a recruits standpoint. Google it if you want to know more.

MONIZ_HALEY@yahoo.com
KERMIT.HARRIS HERE,3RD DIVISION 9TH REG,CO.K THEN MOVED TO B WHEN NO ONE LEFT,SIP AN HOSPITAL FROM E. OF 3RD AIR FIELD
THERE IS A BOOK, THE FIGHTING 9TH,THAT GIVES YOU PRETTY MUCH DETAIL ON THE
BATTLE, -ON THE BEACH GO TO MIDDLE OF ISLAND TURN RIGHT FIRST AIR FIELD,2ND AIR FIELD THIRD AIR FIELD,END OF ISLAND, NO ONE LEFT MUCH OF 3RD, DIV,IT WAS RE-FORMED FOR KOREA ,WITHOUT ME,

I just want to the thank the brave men who fought on Iwo Jima, you guys were the inspiration that led to me enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Thank you to all those who have and are still this great country Semper Fi.

I am looking for anyone who might have known my cousin Jack O. Chandler “A” Company 1st. Battalion 21st. Marines. He was killed on March 7, 1945. He was born in Grangeville, Idaho October 7, 1925.
I would greatly appreciate any information about him.
Sincerely, Richard L. Henderson richardl@gci.net

Trying to get in touch with Alan R. Matthews grandson. My father Raymond J. Laramie served with Mr. Matthews in Iwo Jima, and Mr. Matthews told my father that if he got home, he was going to write a book. Well, he did and it is called “The Assault”. Never heard my father speak of the battle, but heard this story about the book all my life. Mr. Matthews also wrote a poem about me when I was born. I believe it was called “My Little Girl”. I would love to get a copy of this as my mother lost her copy through the years. This has been a search for me most of my Life also. My father is the Laramie in the book. His name was Raymond J. Laramie from Franklin NH. Thank you for this website. It means a lot to me and thousands of others.

Thanks for your information, and for honoring those who fought,
with special honor to the 6000 plus who paid the ultimate with their young lives in the battle of Iwo Jima.

I am trying to connect with any remaining members of:
Company A. 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Iwo Jima,
Also,I would welcome information from any family members
or friends of Iwo Jima vets.

I too was a young 2nd Lieutenant who took over A company on or about March 4th upon the WIA of Capt. Harbin and KIA of my classmate Dean Murphy. I am now 87 years young — Praise The Lord !! To Him be the glory !!